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Excerpt from Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England, by Unknown Author

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CONTENTS

                                                              PAGE<br />

Introduction 7
Poems.
THE PLAIN-DEALING MAN 11
THE VANITIES OF LIFE 15
THE LIFE AND AGE OF MAN 20
THE YOUNG MAN’S WISH 22
THE MIDNIGHT MESSENGER 24
A DIALOGUE BETWIXT AN EXCISEMAN AND DEATH 29
THE MESSENGER OF MORTALITY 32
ENGLAND’S ALARM 36
SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED 39
THE MASONIC HYMN 42
GOD SPEED THE PLOW, AND BLESS THE CORN-MOW 44
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN 46
THE CATHOLICK 49
Ballads.
THE THREE KNIGHTS 50
THE BLIND BEGGAR OF BEDNALL GREEN 51
THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD 59
THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT 61
LORD DELAWARE 64
LORD BATEMAN 68
THE GOLDEN GLOVE; OR, THE SQUIRE OF TAMWORTH 70
KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER 72
THE KEACH I’ THE CREEL 75
THE MERRY BROOMFIELD; OR, THE WEST COUNTRY WAGER 77
SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN 80
BLOW THE WINDS, I-HO! 82
THE BEAUTIFUL LADY OF KENT; OR, THE SEAMAN OF DOVER 84
THE BERKSHIRE LADY’S GARLAND 90
THE NOBLEMAN’S GENEROUS KINDNESS 98
THE DRUNKARD’S LEGACY 100
THE BOWES TRAGEDY 106
THE CRAFTY LOVER; OR, THE LAWYER OUTWITTED 110
THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE 113
THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN 115
THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND’S DAUGHTER 122
THE JOVIAL HUNTER OF BROMSGROVE; OR, THE OLD MAN AND HIS 124
THREE SONS
LADY ALICE 127
THE FELON SEWE OF ROKEBY AND THE FREERES OF RICHMOND 127
Songs.
ARTHUR O’BRADLEY’S WEDDING 138
THE PAINFUL PLOUGH 143
THE USEFUL PLOW; OR, THE PLOUGH’S PRAISE 145
THE FARMER’S SON 146
THE FARMER’S BOY 148
RICHARD OF TAUNTON DEAN; OR, DUMBLE DUM DEARY 149
WOOING SONG OF A YEOMAN OF KENT’S SONNE 153
THE CLOWN’S COURTSHIP 155
HARRY’S COURTSHIP 155
HARVEST-HOME SONG 156
HARVEST-HOME 157
THE MOW 158
THE BARLEY-MOW SONG 159
THE BARLEY-MOW SONG (SUFFOLK VERSION) 162
THE CRAVEN CHURN-SUPPER SONG 162
THE RURAL DANCE ABOUT THE MAY-POLE 164
THE HITCHIN MAY-DAY SONG 166
THE HELSTONE FURRY-DAY SONG 167
CORNISH MIDSUMMER BONFIRE SONG 169
SUFFOLK HARVEST-HOME SONG 170
THE HAYMAKER’S SONG 171
THE SWORD-DANCERS’ SONG 172
THE SWORD-DANCERS’ SONG AND INTERLUDE 175
THE MASKERS’ SONG 180
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAILERS’ SONG 183
THE MUMMERS’ SONG 184
FRAGMENT OF THE HAGMENA SONG 186
THE GREENSIDE WAKES SONG 187
THE SWEARING-IN SONG OR RHYME 188
FAIRLOP FAIR SONG 191
AS TOM WAS A-WALKING 193
THE MILLER AND HIS SONS 194
JACK AND TOM 195
JOAN’S ALE WAS NEW 197
GEORGE RIDLER’S OVEN 199
THE CARRION CROW 202
THE LEATHERN BOTTEL 203
THE FARMER’S OLD WIFE 204
OLD WICHET AND HIS WIFE 206
THE JOLLY WAGGONER 208
THE YORKSHIRE HORSE-DEALER 209
THE KING AND THE COUNTRYMAN 210
JONE O’ GREENFIELD’S RAMBLE 212
THORNEHAGH-MOOR WOODS 214
THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER 216
SOMERSETSHIRE HUNTING SONG 217
THE TROTTING HORSE 218
THE SEEDS OF LOVE 220
THE GARDEN-GATE 221
THE NEW-MOWN HAY 223
THE PRAISE OF A DAIRY 224
THE MILK-MAID’S LIFE 226
THE MILKING-PAIL 228
THE SUMMER’S MORNING 229
OLD ADAM 231
TOBACCO 232
THE SPANISH LADIES 234
HARRY THE TAILOR 235
SIR ARTHUR AND CHARMING MOLLEE 236
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN CAME OVER THE LEA 237
WHY SHOULD WE QUARREL FOR RICHES 238
THE MERRY FELLOWS 239
THE OLD MAN’S SONG 240
ROBIN HOOD’S HILL 241
BEGONE DULL CARE 243
FULL MERRILY SINGS THE CUCKOO 244
JOCKEY TO THE FAIR 245
LONG PRESTON PEG 247
THE SWEET NIGHTINGALE 247
THE OLD MAN AND HIS THREE SONS 250
A BEGGING WE WILL GO 251

Explanation ​

The excerpt you’ve provided is not a literary text itself but rather the table of contents from Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England, an anthology of traditional English folk literature compiled in the 18th or 19th century (likely part of the broader broadside ballad and oral tradition revival of the Romantic era). Since no actual poem or ballad text is included, I’ll analyze the significance of the collection as a whole, its themes, literary context, and cultural importance, while also explaining how the table of contents itself reveals key aspects of peasant life, folklore, and early modern English society.

1. Context of the Collection ​

Historical Background ​

  • This anthology belongs to a tradition of collecting folk ballads, songs, and poems that were originally passed down orally among the rural working class (peasants, farmers, laborers, and artisans) in England.
  • Many of these works date from the Middle Ages to the early modern period (15th–18th centuries), though they were often transcribed later by antiquarians like Thomas Percy (Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, 1765) or Francis James Child (The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, 1882–1898).
  • The peasantry (common folk) were largely illiterate, so these works were memorized, sung, and adapted over generations, reflecting their daily struggles, joys, and beliefs.

Literary Movement & Purpose ​

  • The Romantic era (late 18th–early 19th century) saw a fascination with folk culture as a reaction against industrialization and urbanization. Writers like Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Scott drew inspiration from such ballads.
  • This collection likely aimed to preserve these oral traditions before they disappeared, offering a window into pre-industrial England.

2. Themes Revealed by the Table of Contents ​

The titles alone suggest recurring themes in peasant literature:

A. The Cycle of Life & Death ​

  • "The Life and Age of Man" – Meditations on human mortality.
  • "A Dialogue Betwixt an Exciseman and Death" – Death as an inevitable force (common in memento mori traditions).
  • "The Messenger of Mortality" – Personification of death as a visitor.
  • "The Death of Queen Jane" – Historical tragedy (likely about Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s wife).
  • "Old Adam" – Biblical or allegorical reflections on aging.

Significance: Peasant life was harsh and short; these works acknowledge mortality while often using humor or moral lessons to cope.

B. Labor & Rural Life ​

  • "God Speed the Plow, and Bless the Corn-Mow"
  • "The Painful Plough" / "The Useful Plow"
  • "The Farmer’s Son" / "The Farmer’s Boy"
  • "Harvest-Home Song" / "The Mow"
  • "The Milk-Maid’s Life"

Significance:

  • Agricultural labor was the backbone of peasant existence. These songs celebrate, lament, or satirize the hardships of farming.
  • "Harvest-Home" songs were part of seasonal festivals, marking the end of harvest with feasting and dancing.
  • "The Useful Plow" spiritualizes labor, suggesting divine blessing on honest work (a common Protestant work ethic theme).

C. Social Hierarchy & Class Struggles ​

  • "A Dialogue Between the Husbandman and the Servingman" – Class tensions between landowners and laborers.
  • "The Nobleman’s Generous Kindness" – Idealized patronage (or satire of aristocratic charity).
  • "The Drunkard’s Legacy" – Moral warnings about vice (often aimed at the lower classes).
  • "The Bowes Tragedy" – Likely a murder ballad (common in folk tradition, often about crimes among the gentry or peasants).

Significance:

  • Peasant literature often critiqued or reinforced social norms.
  • "Robin Hood" ballads (e.g., "The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood") glorify outlaws who defy authority, reflecting resentment toward feudal oppression.

D. Love, Courtship, & Gender Roles ​

  • "The Young Man’s Wish" – Romantic longing.
  • "Wooing Song of a Yeoman of Kent’s Sonne" – Courtship rituals.
  • "The Clown’s Courtship" / "Harry’s Courtship" – Humorous or bawdy takes on love.
  • "The Beautiful Lady of Kent" – Idealized femininity (or possibly a seduction ballad).
  • "The Wandering Young Gentlewoman; or, Catskin" – A Cinderella-like tale of a disguised noblewoman.

Significance:

  • Courtship songs were popular in oral tradition, often humorous, bawdy, or moralistic.
  • "Catskin" is a fairy-tale motif (ATU 510B), showing how folk literature blended myth and reality.

E. Superstition, Folklore, & the Supernatural ​

  • "The Three Knights" – Likely a ghost story or moral tale.
  • "The Outlandish Knight" – A murder ballad (e.g., "The Twa Corbies" or "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight").
  • "The Keach i’ the Creel" – Scottish/English trickster tale (a man hides in a basket to spy on women).
  • "The Sword-Dancers’ Song" – Ritualistic folk performances (linked to pagan or medieval traditions).
  • "The Mummers’ Song" – Part of wassailing and Christmas plays, blending Christian and pagan elements.

Significance:

  • Peasant culture was deeply superstitious, with beliefs in fairies, ghosts, and omens.
  • "Sword-dancing" and "mumming" were fertility rituals or protection charms.

F. Humor, Satire, & Social Critique ​

  • "Smoking Spiritualized" – A comic or satirical take on tobacco (a new vice in the 17th century).
  • "The Masonic Hymn" – Possibly a parody of Freemasonry (seen as elitist by peasants).
  • "The Leathern Bottel" – Likely a drinking song (a staple of tavern culture).
  • "The Jolly Wagoner" – Celebrates traveling laborers (wagoners were essential for trade).
  • "The Lincolnshire Poacher" – Glorifies illegal hunting (a defiance of game laws that restricted poaching to the poor).

Significance:

  • Humor was a coping mechanism for hardship.
  • Satire often targeted authority figures (landlords, clergy, tax collectors).

G. National & Regional Identity ​

  • "England’s Alarm" – Likely a patriotic or war ballad (e.g., about the Civil War or Napoleonic Wars).
  • "The Spanish Ladies" – A sea shanty about sailors’ farewells.
  • "The Berkshire Lady’s Garland" – Regional pride in local beauty.
  • "Cornish Midsummer Bonfire Song" – Celtic-influenced traditions.
  • "The Yorkshire Horse-Dealer" – Stereotypes of regional characters.

Significance:

  • Before mass media, regional identities were strong.
  • Ballads preserved local dialects and customs.

3. Literary Devices & Style ​

While we don’t have the full texts, folk ballads and peasant poems typically use:

  • Repetition & Refrain – For memorability (e.g., "Blow the Winds, I-Ho!").
  • Dialogue Form – Many are dramatic monologues or debates (e.g., "A Dialogue Betwixt an Exciseman and Death").
  • Symbolism – Plows = hard work, harvest = reward, death = inevitable fate.
  • Irony & Dark Humor – Especially in murder ballads or trickster tales.
  • Oral Formulaic Phrases – "Come all ye..." (a common ballad opening).
  • Ballad Meter – Often alternating iambic tetrameter and trimeter (4-3-4-3 stress pattern).

4. Cultural & Historical Significance ​

A. Preservation of Peasant Voice ​

  • Most history was written by the elite; these ballads give rare insight into commoners’ perspectives.
  • They reveal resentment of authority, pride in labor, and superstitious worldviews.

B. Influence on Later Literature ​

  • Shakespeare borrowed from ballads (e.g., King Lear’s "Poor Tom" resembles folk madmen).
  • Romantic poets (Wordsworth’s Lyrical Ballads, Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) imitated folk styles.
  • Modern fantasy (Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings) draws on folk motifs like those in "The Outlandish Knight" or "Earl Brand".

C. Anthropological Value ​

  • Festivals (Maypole dances, harvest celebrations) are documented here before industrialization erased them.
  • Gender roles – Women in ballads are often either virtuous maidens or cunning seductresses, reflecting patriarchal norms.
  • Crime & Punishment – "The Bowes Tragedy" and "The Crafty Lover" show how justice (or injustice) was perceived.

D. Political & Religious Undertones ​

  • "The Catholick" – Likely a Protestant satire of Catholicism (post-Reformation tensions).
  • "The Excise-Man and Death" – Anti-tax sentiment (excise taxes were hated by the poor).
  • "Robin Hood" ballads – Populist rebellion against corrupt authority.

5. Why This Table of Contents Matters ​

Even without the full texts, the titles alone tell a story:

  • Life was cyclical (birth, labor, death, rebirth in harvest).
  • Authority was distrusted (Robin Hood, poachers, tricksters).
  • Community was central (harvest songs, dances, weddings).
  • Humor and tragedy coexisted (drinking songs alongside murder ballads).

This anthology is a time capsule of pre-industrial England, where song was history, entertainment, and protest all at once.

Final Thought: The Peasant as Poet ​

Unlike courtly literature (which idealized knights and nobles), these works celebrate the ordinary:

  • The farmer’s calloused hands.
  • The milkmaid’s early mornings.
  • The poacher’s defiance.
  • The lover’s simple joys.

In an era where most peasants couldn’t read, these songs were their books—passed down by firelight, in taverns, and at festivals. They remind us that literature doesn’t belong only to the elite, but to everyone who has a story to tell.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific ballad or theme from the list?